No.

S10332300-3014 Rev.0
INSTRUMENT AIR SUPPLY
Date Page
18 JAN 2013 1 3

SUPPORT TO : S10332300-2001 Instrument Design and Cost Estimation

INSTRUMENT AIR SUPPLY

S10332300 - 3014
GFG-002
 No.
S10332300-3014 Rev.0
INSTRUMENT AIR SUPPLY
Date Page
18 JAN 2013 2 3

TABLE OF CONTENT
SECTION DESCRIPTION PAGE
1.0 SCOPE 3
2.0 GENERAL DESIGN 3
3.0 OPERATIONAL SAFETY 3
3.1 Aspects of Air Supply 3
3.2 Measures for Operational Safety 4
3.3 Aspects of Air Supply 4
4.0 INSTRUMENT AIR PIPING 4
4.1 Supply Systems to Air System 4
4.2 Material of Supply Air System 4
4.3 Location of Block Valves 4
4.4 Main Branches and Manifold Drains 5
4.5 Secondary Branches 5
4.6 Air Sets 5
4.7 Material for Popes Downstream of Air Sets 5
4.8 Design of Air Distributors 5
5.0 PRESSURE AND LEAKAGE TEST 6
5.1 Pressure Test 6
5.2 Leakage Test 6
Appendix-1: Typical for Instrument air distribution 6
6.0 AUTHOR COMMITTEE 8
GFG-002
 No.
S10332300-3014 Rev.0
INSTRUMENT AIR SUPPLY
Date Page
18 JAN 2013 3 3

1.0 SCOPE
This standard shall be applied for the design of the air supply to instruments.
Deviations must be specified in writing as a supplement and shall be approved by OWNER.

2.0 GENERAL DESIGN

The instrument air demand will be determined by the Instrumentation Department on the basis of
equipment consumption figures.

The design of the supply air system shall be coordinated with the project group for the plant
concerned.

A receiver holding an air reserve shall be provided. The compressor pressure and the minimum
permissible instrument air pressure of 7 bar (g) on the instrument air header shall be taken into
account.

Normally, the distributor system is a type of ring line. In order to protect the system in case of major
leakages, block valves shall be arranged at suitable points.

Supply air shall not be used for process purposes or in general plant operation.

Dimensioning of pipes:
Pipe diameters for the instrument air system shall be suitable for the maximum velocity
W = 7 to 8 m/s.

Receiver holding for at least 10 minutes shall be provided.

3.0 OPERATIONAL SAFETY

3.1 Aspects of Air Supply
The operational safety of the air supply to the individual consumers shall take into account:
(1) Safety of personnel.
(2) Damage to environment.
(3) Damage to plant.
GFG-002

(4) Loss of production.

 No.
S10332300-3014 Rev.0
INSTRUMENT AIR SUPPLY
Date Page
18 JAN 2013 4 3

3.2 Measures for Operational Safety

The following measures shall be considered in respect of operational safety:
(1) Duplication of main feed (from various parts of the plant air storage system).
(2) Provision of additional local air receivers.
(3) Provision of additional on-time compressors with drying systems.

3.3 Quality Requirements

The air must be suitable for instruments, i.e. free of oil, clean and dry with a dew point of
(-) 10 oC at 7 bar(g) pressure. The suction nozzles for the instrument air compressors shall be
so arranged that no process gases can enter the instrument air system.
The supply air pressure at the battery limit shall not be less than 7 bar (g) at max. Withdrawal.

4.0 INSTRUMENT AIR PIPING

4.1 Supply Systems to Air Sets
Pipe materials for the supply air system to the air sets shall be designed as stated in Section
4.8.

4.2 Material of Supply Air System

The material of the instrument air lines from the compressor to the pertinent branch on the pipe
rack shall be stainless steel and designed according to the appropriate pipe specification. The
entire system must be pickled after installation, if the main header is of carbon steel and
welded.

Copper material pipe can be accepted in pipe 1/4 inch nominal diameter or smaller.
The main branches shall also be taken to a point near the consumers according to pipe
specification.

4.3 Location of Block Valves

The air supply system should be fitted with block valves at the following points:
(1) At each main branch from the air line system to one plant component.
(2) At each secondary branch on the pipe rack to an air distributor.
(3) At each individual consumer.
GFG-002
 No.
S10332300-3014 Rev.0
INSTRUMENT AIR SUPPLY
Date Page
18 JAN 2013 5 3

4.4 Main Branches and Manifold Drains

All main branches shall be arranged vertically upward. A drain shall be provided at the lowest
point in the air manifold.

4.5 Secondary Branches

The pipe diameter for the secondary branches shall not be less than 1/2 inch.

4.6 Air Sets

Each air consumer shall be provided with an air set and a stainless steel pressure gauge. The
range of measurement of the pressure gauges shall be subject to instrument requirements.
Ceramic or sinter metal filters are preferred.

4.7 Material for Pipes Downstream of Air Sets

Downstream of the station, PVC-sheathed Cu pipe (PVC sheath thickness 1 mm) shall be
used for pipes/tubing ¼ inch or smaller, stainless steel 316 shall be used for pipes/tubing
larger than ¼ inch.

4.8 Design of Air Distributors

Flange 1” ANSI Class 150 RF shall be apply to all air distributors for connect to piping ball
valve from main branch.

The air distributors shall be designed for 12 consumers with individual block valves to each
consumer.

Galvanized steel pipe may also used between main branch pipe and each consumer without
the distributor, if large amount of air is required at consumer, or a few consumers are hung
on one main branch.

Air distributors shall be stainless steel. The valves on the air distributor shall be
brass/cadmium plated or stainless steel. The tubes to the air sets shall be copper with PVC
sheath.
GFG-002

All spared point and low points shall have a 1/2" Full bore ball valve with plug installed.
 No.
S10332300-3014 Rev.0
INSTRUMENT AIR SUPPLY
Date Page
18 JAN 2013 6 3

5.0 PRESSURE AND LEAKAGE TEST

5.1 Pressure Test
A pressure test shall be performed with air or nitrogen up to the distribution stations. No
pressure test from air distribution station to instrument to be performed.

5.2 Leakage Test

Dry air or N 2 shall be used as test media for leak- tests.
The installed supply air distributor system must be purged and block valves must be closed.
The system shall be leakage-tested with instrument air from the distributor to the consumers.
Test pressure: 0.05 bar to 0.1 bar.

Appendix-1 Typical for Instrument air distribution.

NOTE
(1) Branch-off point from horizontal piping in Pipe Bridge.
GFG-002

(2) Spare connection.

(3) Branch-off point to air-distributor.
(4) Drain valve at low points and dead end of piping.
 No.
S10332300-3014 Rev.0
INSTRUMENT AIR SUPPLY
Date Page
18 JAN 2013 7 3

(5) Valve at end of main piping for future extension.

(6) Two spares branches with block valve shall be provided at Air Distributor.
GFG-002
 No.
S10332300-3014 Rev.0
INSTRUMENT AIR SUPPLY
Date Page
18 JAN 2013 8 3

6.0 AUTHOR COMMITTEE

Khun Khomkrit Hemhatthaporn Prepared
Khun Pornchai Kitwimontakul
Khun Pichet Kongtanakomtunkich
Khun Thanapon Nithithanaphak
Khun Kulrachart Dungukos
Khun Karan Chuaiphikroh
Khun Somyot Phisarn
Khun Anucha Pinyopornsawat
Khun Jaruvit Audkhammee Prepared
Khun Wisit Rienprakasit. Prepared
Khun Narong Suphankan
Khun Piriya Piriyayon
Khun Sompas Samnianglam
Khun Monchai Karnjanopas
Khun Pakorn Bubphasiri
Khun Vorapot Mansatit
Khun Prayong Supakeeratirot
Khun Suppakit Yenjit
Khun Theera Chananuvong
Khun Pongprapun Huayyai
Khun Chumpol Wongthaiwon
Khun Tianchai Aramyok
GFG-002